A senior Ulster Unionist's claim that the GAA should be compared to the Orange Order has been rubbished by nationalists.
UUP honorary secretary Arlene Foster, said that if police officers were forced to declare membership of the order, the same should apply to the Gaelic Athletic Association.
New measures announced last week will require officers to disclose involvement with secret or cultural organisations such as the Orange Order, Freemasons, Knights of Colum-banus, Apprentice Boys, the Royal Black Institution and Ancient Order of Hibernians.
However, Ms Foster said if the legislation was necessary, it should include the GAA.
"I think it should be wide-ranging and not just include the Orange Order, the Masonic Order and the Knights of Columbanus on the other side," she said.
"Let's face it, the Orange Order on one side is akin to the GAA on the other side."
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative Tommy Gallagher hit out at Ms Foster's "ill informed comments".
"It is sad that she did not take more time to find out about the GAA. It is far from being akin to the Orange Order. The GAA does not bar membership to anyone on religious grounds... and indeed it is now played within the Police Service of Nor-thern Ireland," he said.
Mr Gallagher said the remarks were a bid "to gain publicity and cause division" ahead of assembly elections, adding: "The GAA has a fine tradition of developing sporting talent and encouraging young people to fulfil their potential.
"These comments are simply an attempt to deepen the mistrust between the two communities here.
"She should think very carefully about making any future comments of this kind."
Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh representative Conor Murphy said the comments showed "a large degree of ignorance about the role and the nature of the GAA".
"The Orange Order is a sectarian organisation that bans any contact or membership of Catholics purely on the basis of religion," he said.
"The GAA, by comparison, has actually had a Protestant president and its role in the life of all communities across Ireland has never been linked to polarising and creating division."
